The Rosicrucian Christianity Lectures

by

Max Heindel

ASTROLOGY: ITS SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS

In modern times the Science of Astrology has
come to be regarded as an exploded fallacy, and, like the clairvoyant, the
astrologer is looked upon as a charlatan, and not without reason; for such
advertisements as are found in almost any paper offering to cast a horoscope
telling one's fortune from the cradle to the grave for the magnificent sum of
ten cents or even for a postage stamp are enough to give a certain justification
for the appellation "fakir," and this lecture is given to show another
side, not popularly known, to this ancient and misjudged science; to show its
uses and its limitations.

There are two kinds of astrology and two
kinds of astrologers: those who do not even cast a horoscope for their patrons
but only ask the month of birth, which information tells them what sign the Sun
was in at the time of the person's birth. Then they copy from a book or have a
set of twelve mimeographed forms telling the person's "fortune."

It is evident to any reasoning mind that
there are more than twelve classes of people in the world, and according to that
method there would be a similarity of line if the case of every twelfth person,
whereas we know that no two persons have the same experience; that every life is
different from all others, and any method that does not make such a difference
must be false upon the face of it.

The ten-cent astrologer is a good business
man. His mimeographed "READING," stationery and postage do not cost
more than two cents, so he has a profit of eight cents for every horoscope (?).
Commercially that is an enormous profit, but it fades into insignificance before
the fact that every time the astrologer (?) gets an order he gets the name of a
fool, and he has a regular "follow up" system whereby he notifies his
customers from time to time that certain very important developments are due to
take place in a near future which he will reveal for a dollar. He will work his
victim systematically until at last experience has taught him how worthless are
the prognostications he receives, and then such people cry down astrology as
fraud or folly.

The scientific method demands first, MONTH,
DAY, AND YEAR, from the applicant, because it takes into consideration all of
the nine heavenly bodies in the solar system, and it knows that they have at
that time a certain relative position to one another. That same position will
not occur again until a sidereal year has passed, and that is 25,868 of our
ordinary years in length, so that if a child is born today it would take 25,868
years before another child could be born with the same horoscope. But even that
is not enough, for it is estimated that a child is born every second; that would
give 86,400 whose experience in life would be alike if only the day of birth
were taken into consideration. Therefore the scientific astrologer demands both
the HOUR and PLACE or birth in addition to the DAY, MONTH, AND YEAR, for there
are seldom two people born in the same place at the same hour and minute; even
twins come from twenty minutes to a number of hours apart, and that makes a
great difference. Where they are born from the same sac and alike, they will
have been born when the same zodiacal sign was rising in the East, for that is
an important factor in giving form to the body, but where they are born from
separate envelopes and dissimilar, calculation will bring out the fact that the
end of one sign was rising at the birth of one, and the beginning of the next
when the second was delivered, or, where there are several hours between, there
may be more signs between, for as the Earth turns on its axis through the day, a
new sign rises every two hours at the equator, but nearer the pole some signs
are passed quicker on account of the inclination of the Earth's axis, so that at
times there may be several signs between the birth of twins, which would make
their lives very different.

When, however, it happens that two children
are born in THE SAME PLACE AT THE SAME TIME, there is also a marked similarity
in their lives. There are such cases on record. One instance will suffice: A Mr.
Samuel Hemmings was born in the same parish in London, at the same hour and near
the same minute as King George the Third, June 4, 1738. He went into business as
an ironmonger on the same day the King was crowned; he was married the same day
as his majesty, died on the same day, and also other events in the two lives
resembled each other. The difference in station precluded both being kings, but
on the same day when one became the monarch of a kingdom, the other also became
an independent business man.

Astronomy stands in about the same relation
to astrology as anatomy to physiology. Anatomy gives the dry facts as to the
location and the structure of the constituent organs of the body, and astronomy
gives like dry data with regard to the heavenly bodies. But, as it is reserved
for physiology to enunciate the utility of the different organic parts of the
body, which alone makes such knowledge of value, so it is the part of astrology
to explain the significance of the changing relative positions of the heavenly
bodies in regard to the actions of mankind.

It will need no argument to prove that the
chemical condition of the Earth's atmosphere is different in the morning from
what it is at noon or evening. We also see the changes produced in the different
seasons, and we recognize that these changes are due to the Sun's changed
position. We also recognize the effect of the Moon on the tides, etc. These
bodies move fast, yet are constantly producing changes in the atmospheric
conditions of the Earth; and in these days of wireless telegraphy it should not
be hard to conceive that the other heavenly bodies also produce an effect. As we
have already seen, these changes are so numerous that the same chemical
condition could not occur except at intervals of 25,868 years. Thus we see that
the electrostatic condition of the atmosphere at the moment a child draws its
first breath would give to each atom of the little sensitive body AN INDIVIDUAL
STAMP. It is as if we were charging a new electric battery, and any change in
the atmospheric condition will affect that brain differently from all others,
for its original stamp varied from all others.

There is in the mind of many people the idea
that astrology is fatalistic; and while it may so appear, a deeper study will
show that this idea is erroneous; that as all our sorrows and pains are the
result of ignorance, so knowledge will avert misfortune IF APPLIED in time; and
in order to understand the scope of our free will we must recognize the fact
that the result of our past deeds goes through a threefold process of ripening.

In the first place there are causes which
have been allowed to run their course unchecked by other acts and have so nearly
worked themselves into effects that they are like the ball shot from a
pistol--they are beyond our power of interference and must be allowed to run
their course for good or ill. They are called "ripe" causation in
occultism, and they are clearly shown in the horoscope when properly cast. Of
course it would do us no good in one sense to know them when we cannot avert
them, but sometimes we may alter the conditions under which such a ripe cause
spends itself, and then there is the hope. We see the passing cloud, we know
when it will have spent its fury, and that gives us a hope we should not have
save for the prognostications of astrology.

The second kind of causes is that generated
and worked out from day to day; a sort of "pay as you go transaction."
This kind may often be avoided or rectified by a knowledge of astrology. The
tendencies are also shown in the horoscope.

The third kind of causes is that which we
are making but which we cannot work out now. That is saved up for adjustment in
later years or later lives. In regard to this class we have absolute freedom.
The horoscope will aid us by showing the tendencies, so that we may be
particularly careful at critical times, working with all our might to catch the
good opportunities and taking extra pains to avoid an evil tendency.

To illustrate the working of the Law of
Consequence in relation to prediction we may cite some cases within our own
experience.

Mr. L., a well known and popular lecturer,
had never studied astrology, but was interested and was offered tuition. In
order to lend interest to the study his own horoscope was used as a basis of
instruction, as he would thus be able to check the interpretations of the past
and thus arrive at a better understanding than if someone else's nativity had
been used. In the course of the calculations it came out that Mr. L. was subject
to frequent accidents. Previous accidents and happenings were figured out to the
very day they happened, which impressed Mr. L very much.

It was further seen that on the 21st of
July, 1906, another accident was due and would affect the upper part of the
chest, arms, and neck to the lower part of the head; also that it would result
from a short journey. Mr. L. was warned that as the new Moon, occurring on that
day, was the factor in bringing about the event, he must stay in the house on
that day and also on the seventh day after, the latter being even more dangerous
than the original. He was much impressed and promised to obey the injunction
carefully.

Just previous to the critical time we wrote
Mr. L. from Seattle to insure remembrance of directions and received a letter in
reply that he was mindful and would be careful.

The next communication was from a mutual
friend, stating that on the critical day, July 28, Mr. L. had gone to Sierra
Madre in an electric car and at a railway crossing had come in collision with a
train, was hurled out through a window and sustained injuries in the placed
mentioned in the prediction; also a lesion to a tendon which had not been seen.

It was a sore puzzle, of course, to know why
Mr. L. had disregarded the injunction, as he was very much impressed with the
reality of the danger. The answer came three months later, when he was able to
write himself. He said: "I thought the 28th was the 29th." This was
plainly a case of "ripe" causation that could not be avoided. In other
cases people have been warned of accidents, have followed instructions and
escaped, and said afterwards: "But do you really think I would have been
hurt if I had not done so?" That is the difficulty! People do not believe
unless they get it knocked into them, as Mr. L. did. He wrote: "These
accidents have deepened my respect for astrology immensely." But is that
the only way we can learn? If so, the more the pity for us.

It is a true saying that "no man liveth
to himself." We all affect each other. That also is shown in the horoscope.
The death of the parents is particularly shown in each one's horoscope, for they
are the source of the body in which we live, and often where the birth hour is
unknown the proficient astrologer can find it from the great events in life,
particularly if the father's and mother's death day is given him. Husband and
wife are also so tied that the great events in the life of one are shown in the
horoscope of the other. A case in point came under notice a few years ago when a
Mrs. F. was warned of a danger of rupture of relations between herself and Mr.
F. She was told that an anticipated journey would be stopped and social
functions suspended. (They were society people.) The lady acknowledged having
contemplated a journey to Europe, but pooh-poohed the idea of giving it up and
asked if Mr. F. was in danger of death. The answer was: Worse! But as it was a
delicate matter and she a stranger, no more could be said, save that November
would be a time of disaster. The 14th of that month her husband was sentenced to
five years in the penitentiary for criminal assault on a little girl. The
journey was of course suspended and social ostracism followed. This case shows
particularly the delicate position of the astrologer. Though he may see and is
desirous of helping, conventions debar him from saying outright what he sees.
The before- mentioned case is in point. Though anxious to avert suffering it was
impossible to warn. Therefore WE ADVOCATE THE STUDY OF ASTROLOGY BY ALL.

Not even the best astrologer who is a
stranger can see into the lives of those near and dear to us as we an when we
have studied astrology, because of the insight we have already gained into their
characters. Conventions do not hinder us to the same extent as they affect a
stranger. Besides, a bought horoscope never can engender in us the sympathy for
others which comes from the personal knowledge of astrology. When a visitor to
Columbus, Ohio, the writer was shown the horoscope of a certain boy cast by his
aunt. It was seen at once that the boy was going through a crisis which would
last about six years. During that time an enormous amount of evil would surely
come to the surface, and all would depend upon what his treatment at home would
be--and oh, the pity of it, ignorance of the hidden causes governed the attitude
of the parents. Instead of forbearance, love, and sympathy, he was getting
lectures and punishments. Regarded as a scapegrace, how could he be expected to
be good at that age! A great wave of sympathy swept over the writer at the
realization of what that poor boy must suffer, and when a horoscope of the lad's
younger sister revealed the fact that when about 14 she would enter upon a
similar crisis, the need was felt of sending an urgent message to those parents,
telling them for pity's sake to lavish love on that child in the few years which
would elapse ere the commencement of the crisis, to make home so dear and
homelike to her that when the crisis comes she will have so much love and cheer
at home that all other companionships and all other places must seem dull by
comparison. Only in that way will it be possible to save that child and it has
been a frequent prayer with the writer that the advice may be heeded.

We have those mysteries, the children, all
around and amongst us. Upon the way we solve the riddle will it depend what we
reap as a result of our guardianship. It is not beyond the average intellect to
be able to cast an ordinary horoscope and read it for character. Character is
destiny, and if we know the character of a growing child we may lay up for
ourselves great treasure in heaven by strengthening the good tendencies and
helping it by example and precept to weed out the evil.

One of the greatest uses of astrology in the
writer's opinion is in determining the character of children and bringing them
up so as to strengthen their weak points and stem the evil tendencies. In
character reading astrology is correctly interpreted in 99 per cent of the cases
by most experienced astrologers, and no parent can benefit and help a child more
than by getting a horoscope for it, except by learning to case it. In the
meantime a friend who understands astrology may be utilized to furnish a
horoscope for the child.

While astrology is an absolutely true
science, it must always be taken into consideration that the astrologer is but
human and therefore fallible. Though a conscientious astrologer with the ability
to combine and blend the stellar influences will generally give correct
forecasts, he is every liable to meet his Waterloo, often where he least expects
it. The writer has only once said that a prediction he made would not fail and
that time it did fail. There was an escape-clause and it was seen, but the
aspects were so strong that it seemed impossible that the predicted event could
fail to materialize. It NEARLY happened, but was frustrated at the critical
moment, showing the potency of the escape-clause.

That predictions fail at times is due to a
factor which the astrologer cannot take into consideration--the free will of
man. So long as people drift aimlessly with the time and tide of life, wafted
hither and thither by the wind of circumstance the task of prediction is easy,
and the careful and competent astrologer can predict accurately for the great
majority of people for the horoscope shows their TENDENCIES, and apart from
individual effort mankind follows these tendencies unresistingly. But the more
evolved the man, the more liable is the astrologer to fail, for he can only see
the tendencies; the will of the man as a factor it is beyond him to calculate.
In the nature of things there must be this element of uncertainty. If conditions
were so hard and fast that no mistake were possible, it would show that
inexorable fate governed human life, and there would be no use in making an
effort to change conditions, but the very fact that predictions do fail is an
inspiration, for it shows that a certain amount of free will does exist.

There is one phase of prediction where
astrology is perhaps infallible and of great use, that is in determining the
affinity of people, so that instead of making marriage a lottery or chance it
can be ascertained before-hand what amount of happiness or sorrow will result
from such a union. There would certainly be no need for divorce in cases where a
fairly competent astrologer had recommended the union.

In the previous lectures we have seen that
human life is governed by a great law of nature, the law of Consequence or
Causation; that our every act is causative and will bring its inevitable effect
as surely as the pebble thrown into the air returns to earth. under this Great
Law we meet again both friends and foes and it seems that it is impossible to
come into the closest of all relations--marriage--with a stranger. Therefore it
appears that the influences which thus incite people are RIPE causation which
cannot be avoided. The writer has noticed that when people ask for an
astrological forecast of a proposed marriage, and predictions are favorable,
they invariably hurry the ceremony because it is in line with their wishes, but
where the astrologer is compelled to predict disaster they invariably conclude
that "he does not know as much as he thinks he does," and they either
get married anyway or consult someone who predicts as they wish and then follow
his advice.

The greatest of all the uses of astrology is
in dealing with sick people, and that is the only use the writer makes of it
now. We have spoken of the Law of Consequence, which brings to each at the
appointed time the results of his past actions, whether in this or other lives.
The stars are the Clock of Destiny, as it were; the twelve signs of the zodiac
correspond to the face of the clock with its twelve figures; the Sun and the
planets with their slow motions indicate the year when any certain event is due,
and the swift-moving Moon will tell us the month.

There is one class of people who are
particularly under the influence of Luna--the Moon. LUNATICS we call them on
that account. In their lives the changes of the moon are particularly felt and
the astrologer can forecast not only to the day, but even to the very hour when
rises manifest. A case in point from the writer's experience will illustrate.

The wife of a friend became mentally ill and
was put under the care of two nurses. Warning was given concerning crises at
different periods and the precautions taken prevented serious trouble. The
lady's husband always made it a point to be on hand to help the nurses and a
straitjacket was used. One such night a warning had been given for two a.m. The
gentleman was there as usual in the room with the patient. He lay on the bed
fully dressed, and the lady was sitting up in bed during the fore part of the
night, talking, mostly rationally, and pleaded to have the wrist- bands of the
straitjacket untied.

As she seemed so rational the husband
complied, and a little later the lady herself unfastened the straps imprisoning
her lower limbs.

About two a.m. she arose and searched the
room for something, still speaking quietly and rationally, but Mr. --- got the
idea that she was hunting for a knife, so he also arose to watch her, but as he
did so she sprang at him, biting his cheek, and a knife fell to the floor. it
took the combined efforts of the husband and nurses to get her back into the
strait-jacket.

A few days later Mr. --- discovered that his
trousers had been pierced in two places by a glancing blow from the knife. The
attack occurred at the very hour predicted.

When sickness comes to anyone the crisis is
shown by the horoscope, and from that it is possible to see the developments in
the case, so as to be able to take advantage of the propitious times. Then the
healing remedies will have so much greater effect, and if the healer is unable
to make much progress on account of adverse planetary conditions he can at least
hold out hope and say when a change will occur.

Such a case happened in Duluth when the
writer was asked to attend a lady suffering from blood poison. She had been
given up by the doctors. On casting her horoscope it was seen that she had had a
similar disease seven years before and that another crisis was due in a few
days, when the new Moon would aggravate the condition.

The lady was in great agony, with her
relatives around her. She was taking leave of them and expected to die. As the
Moon was dark it did not hinder much and in about twenty minutes the patient was
resting easy and without pain. In two days the poison had been driven from the
abdomen down to the knees; but then the new Moon stopped progress, and the third
day itching and pain in the lower part of the limbs commenced again. We fought
it for three days, but, while able to stop the pain during treatments, it
commenced an hour or two after. The swelling remained as before. it was then
plain that no relief was possible till the Moon had turned the full. The patient
was told that no relief was possible at once, but on a designated day the
swelling would yield to the treatments already given and the pain cease. On the
day designated the lady got up in the morning and could put her shoes on with
ease. The sickness was past.

In this relation a physician and surgeon in
Portland, Oregon, said that his experience had led him to always perform his
operations, if at all possible, while the Moon is increasing, as he had noticed
that there was greater vitality at that time and wounds healed better than when
the operation was performed while the Moon was decreasing.

To the occultist the twelve signs of the
zodiac are the visible vehicles of the twelve great Creative hierarchies which
helped man to evolve up to his present stage of self-consciousness, the Sun
being the vesture of the highest spiritual intelligence manifest in our system
at the present time. The seven planets: Uranus, Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Earth,
Venus, Mercury, and the bodies of the seven great Star Angels, of whom we hear
in all religions as the seven Spirits before the Throne, the seven Archangels of
the Mohammedans, the seven Rishis of the Hindus, the seven Amshaspands of the
Parsis, etc. They act according to the law of Consequence, and are the Ministers
of our Lord, the Sun-God, each taking care of a definite part of God's will.

From them as Spirits we have all come in
seven "rays," and ONE of them is thus our "Father-Star," and
remains so throughout all our lives. That fact does not preclude that we may be
and are born at different times under all the other stars, so as to gather
varied experience, and our horoscope will show what particular star is our
"ruler" in this life, but we never know our Father-Star until at the
last initiation. From this fact comes also the beautiful doctrine of "twin
souls" not to be confounded with the coarse and bestial teaching which has
been made the excuse for abominable adulterous practices. But all who have
emanated from the same father-star are brother, sister, or twin souls in all
their lives on Earth, and no one can enter an occult school except the one
composed of our brothers from the same ray or star-angel from which we have
emanated. This was what Christ Jesus meant when He said to the disciples,
"Your Father and my Father," whereby we may understand that Jesus and
his disciples were twin souls emanated from the same ray. To the Pharisees he
ascribes a different origin, calling them children of the devil, Saturn or
Satan. Yet it must not be supposed that Saturn is evil; he has his beneficent
mission to fulfill, like all the other of God's ministers; he is the subduing
influence which brings sorrow to put a damper upon our arrogance; the tempter,
to bring out our imperfections that we may be purged of evil and become perfect
and virtuous; and his virtues are grand and great, chastity and justice, a
rectitude that will never swerve, but it lacks mercy, and love; that comes from
the beautiful Venus. From her also come music and art, which serve to turn us to
the higher side of nature. Jupiter is the beacon that lures us on to heaven and
inspires us with lofty thoughts of devotion to God and altruistic aspirations.
Mars is the energizer spurring us on to work in the vineyard of life. Were it
not for his prodding influence there would be no vim or vigor in man. In his
evil aspects he gives passion, war and strife, but that is because we misuse the
energy he imparts. In the same way Venus will give sloth, and Jupiter indolence;
but when we allow their good influences to be misdirected by our lower natures,
Saturn comes and puts us through the trials of sorrow and tribulation to bring
us again to the path of advancement and purity.

Mercury, the messenger of the Gods, is the
fount of wisdom whence the human mind gets its tone, the smallest of all the
planets, but the kingdom of the star-angel who has the most important mission of
all in respect to our human race. Upon its position and configurations in the
horoscope will depend whether the coming life will be one of devotion to the
higher self or if the lower nature will hold sway, for the mind is the link
between the higher Self and the lower nature. If it is so posited that it cares
more for the pleasures of sense than the joys of the soul, sorrowful will be the
end. Yet it should always be remembered that no man is compelled to do evil, and
that the greater the temptation, the greater the reward to him that overcometh
the tendencies shown in the horoscope. For let it always be remembered that
though the stars impel, they cannot and do not compel. In the
final analysis WE are the arbiters of our destiny, and despite all the evil
influences it is within our power to rule our stars by the exercise of Will, the
badge of our divinity to which all else must bow.

As Ella Wheeler Wilcox has said so
poignantly:

One ship sails east and another sails west,
With the selfsame winds that blow,
'Tis the set of the sail and not the gale,
Which determines the way they go.
As the winds of the sea are the ways of fate,
As we voyage along through life,
'Tis the act of the soul that determines the goal
And not the calm or the strife.

SPIRITUAL SIGHT AND INSIGHT

When we speak of spiritual sight we are not
speaking symbolically, or of a vague something, an ecstatic feeling or the like,
but of a definite faculty as real as physical sight and as necessary to
perception of the spiritual worlds and to true insight into super-physical
conditions as physical sight is indispensable to a comprehensive insight into
material things.

The spiritual sight of which we speak is not
to be confused with clairvoyance developed in spiritualistic circles. The latter
depends upon a negative state of mind where the inner worlds are reflected in
the consciousness of the sitters, as the surrounding landscape is reflected in a
mirror. Such a method gives SIGHT, but INSIGHT concerning the thing seen is
lacking in the negative clairvoyant as much as in the mirror. He is in a
position similar to that of a man tied on a horse without rein or bridle, who is
carried wheresoever the horse pleases. Such a faculty is a curse. The properly
trained clairvoyant is not tied; he can get on or off as he pleases, has rein
and bridle on his horse; he is master, the other a slave.

Certain negative phases of clairvoyance are
also developed by taking drugs, by crystal gazing, etc. In all such cases the
faculty is a danger and a detriment, being uncontrolled by the Spirit. Drugs
have a fearfully destructive effect on the different vehicles of man. But the
most dangerous method of development is indiscriminate breathing exercises. Many
a man is in the insane asylum today or his body lies in a consumptive's grave,
on account of having practiced breathing exercises in development classes,
taught by persons as ignorant as himself. Breathing exercises, when necessary,
are NEVER GIVEN IN CLASSES, as each pupil is differently constituted from every
one else; each consequently needs INDIVIDUAL exercises, and different mental
exercises also to accompany them. Only through individual instruction from a
competent teacher can spiritual sight and insight be developed in perfect
safety. The foregoing remarks apply only to breathing exercises for occult
development and not to exercises for physical culture, which are excellent when
practiced in moderation.

The questions then arises: How may the true
teacher be found, and how distinguished from the imposter? This is a momentous
question, for when the aspirant has found such a teacher, he is in a safe haven
and will be guarded against the great majority of dangers which beset those who
through ignorance or elfish motives steer their own course and seek spiritual
powers without endeavoring to develop moral fiber.

It is an axiomatic truth that men are known
"by their fruits," and as ESOTERIC SCHOLARSHIP DEMANDS FROM THE PUPIL
UNSELFISHNESS OF MOTIVE, it is a fair inference that the teacher must possess
this attribute in a still higher degree. Thus, if a man proclaim himself a
teacher and offer his knowledge for sale at so much per lesson, he falls below
the standard set for the pupils. That he must obtain money to live, and similar
excuses for charging for tuition, are all sophistries. Cosmic law cares for him
who works with it, AND ANY TEACHING OFFERED ON A COMMERCIAL BASIS IS NOT THE
HIGHEST KNOWLEDGE, for that is never bartered for an actual or implied material
consideration, but in every case comes to the recipient as a right, as a result
of merit; and even if the true teacher desired to avoid instructing a certain
person, he would be compelled by the Law of Consequence to give him the
instruction when earned. Such an attitude would be unthinkable, however, for
there is joy inconceivable among the Elder Brothers of humanity over every one
who commences to walk along the path of life everlasting. On the other hand,
anxious though they are, they may not reveal their secret to any one before he
has proved by steadfastness and unselfishness, to be a safe guardian of the
resulting immense power for good or evil. If we allow our passions to run riot,
if avarice and greed are the mainspring of our actions, we hinder progress
instead of helping our fellow man, and until we have learned to use aright the
powers we have, we are not fitted to do the greater work demanded of those who
have been helped by the Elder Brothers to develop their latent spiritual sight
and to gain the spiritual insight which makes this faculty of value as a factor
in evolution.

Therefore, "The Path of
Preparation" precedes "The Way of Initiation." PERSISTENCE,
DEVOTION, OBSERVATION, AND DISCRIMINATION are means of attainment, for by these
the vital body is sensitized. By PERSISTENCE and devotion the chemical and the
life ethers become capable of taking care of vital functions in the dense body
during sleep. A cleavage takes place between those two ethers and the two
higher, the light ether and the reflecting ether. When the latter two have been
sufficiently spiritualized by observation and discrimination, a simple formula
given by the Teacher enables the disciple to take them out with his higher
bodies at will. He is thus equipped with a vehicle of sense perception and
memory. Whatever knowledge he possesses in the material world is then available
in the spiritual realms, and he brings back to the physical brain, memories of
his experience while without the dense body. This is necessary in order to
function outside the dense body with full consciousness of both the Physical
World and the Desire World, for the desire body is unorganized as yet, and did
not the vital body leave its imprint on the desire body at death, we could have
no consciousness in the Desire World during post-mortem existence.

Indiscriminate breathing exercises do not
effect this cleavage, but tend to lift the whole vital body out of the dense
body. Thus, in some cases, connections between etheric sense centers and brain
cells are ruptured or strained, and insanity results. In other instances the
line of cleavage occurs between the life ether and the chemical ether, and as
life ether is the cementing material in assimilation and the particular avenue
for specialization of solar energy, this rupture results in consumption. Only
proper exercises bring about the right cleavage. When purity of life has turned
the unused sex force generated in the life ether upwards through the heart, that
force takes care of the limited amount of circulation necessary during sleep.
Thus physical functions and spiritual development are carried on side by side
along proper and harmonious lines.

Above we have the reason for the vow of
celibacy taken by those who devote themselves entirely to the higher life. it is
not necessary for a beginner to go into asceticism; absolute celibacy is only
for the few as yet. At present, union of the sexes is the method of procreation.
There is no other way to provide bodies for incoming egos, and it is the duty of
everyone who is of sound mind, morals, and body to provide a vehicle and an
environment for as many incoming spirits as his means and opportunities allow.
We should approach the act of procreation as a sacrament; not for gratification
of the senses, but in a spirit of prayer. The sex force is required but a few
times in the life of any person for generation; the remainder is legitimately
available for self-improvement.

DISCRIMINATION is the faculty whereby we
distinguish that which is unimportant and unessential, separating the real from
illusion, and the lasting from the evanescent. In ordinary life we are
accustomed to think of the body as ourselves. Discrimination teaches that WE ARE
SPIRITS and our bodies are but temporary dwelling places, instruments for use.
The carpenter uses hammer and saw; they are important instruments but he does
not think of himself as being either. Neither should we identify ourselves with
our bodies, but learn to discriminate, to regard the body as a servant, valuable
only in so far as obedient to our commands. When thus regarded, we shall find
that we can readily make it do many things hitherto thought impossible.
Discrimination generates the INTELLECTUAL SOUL, and gives man his first start
toward the higher life.

OBSERVATION is the use of the senses as
means of obtaining information regarding the phenomena around us. Observation
and action generate the CONSCIOUS SOUL. It is of the highest importance to our
development that we observe the sights and scenes around us ACCURATELY,
otherwise the pictures in our conscious memory do not coincide with the
automatic subconscious records. The rhythm and harmony of the dense body is
disturbed in proportion to the inaccuracy of our observation during the day. Our
activities during sleep partially restore harmony, but the warring vibrations
from day to day and year to year are one of the causes which gradually harden
and destroy our organism until it becomes unfit for the use of the spirit and
must be abandoned to give the Spirit another opportunity for growth in a new and
better body. In proportion as we learn to observe accurately we shall gain in
health and longevity, and WE SHALL NEED LESS REST AND SLEEP. The latter is an
important point in the present discussion, as will presently appear.

DEVOTION to high ideals is a curb on the
animal instincts, and generates and evolves the EMOTIONAL SOUL. Cultivation of
the faculty of devotion is very essential. In some people this is the line of
least resistance, and they are apt to become mystic dreamers. The energies of
the desire body are then expressed as enthusiasm and religious ecstasy. There
are also some people who develop abnormally the faculty of discrimination, which
leads along cold intellectual lines of metaphysical speculation. In either case
thee is a lack of balance, a danger. The mystic dreamer, because DOMINATED by
emotion, may become subject to all sorts of illusion. That, the intellectual
occultist will never do, but he may end in black magic if he pursues the path of
knowledge for the sake of knowledge and not for SERVICE. The only safe way is to
develop both head and heart.

The OCCULTIST unfolds along intellectual
lines; he searches for truth by observation, and discrimination. He observes and
reasons upon what he sees. Thus he attains to knowledge, but as Paul says,
"knowledge puffeth up but love edifieth," and before his knowledge can
be of the highest use in spiritual unfoldment, he must learn to FEEL IT else he
cannot LIVE it. When he has done that he is both mystic and occultist.

The MYSTIC develops particularly the faculty
of devotion. He FEELS TRUTH without necessity of reasoning. He KNOWS, but cannot
give a reason for his faith or explain to others so as to help them. He must
develop the intellectual side of his nature, to be of the highest use in the
upliftment of humanity. Then intellect acts as a curb on the emotions and
devotion safely guides the intellect. If we go along one line or the other
exclusively, we shall have to take up the other at some future time in order to
become fully rounded. It is better, therefore, to try to develop NOW the faculty
we lack. Thus we shall make the most rapid progress toward the final goal with
perfect safety.

The clarity and sharpness of a photograph
depend upon the way the lens is focused by the photographer. Once set, it
remains in focus. If it had life and a will of its own, if it could change its
direction and focus, the pictures would become blurred. The mind is in about
that position; it flits about aimlessly, literally in a mental St. Vitus' dance,
and resents a curb most strenuously. But it can and must be tamed, and
PERSISTENCE is the chief means of bridling it. In proportion as the mind is
stilled, the spirit can reflect itself in the threefold body, on the principle
that the sun mirrors itself in a calm sea, but turbulent billows deflect the sun
rays.

The vital body is like a mirror or, rather,
like the film of a moving picture; it pictures alike the world without according
to our faculty of OBSERVATION, and the ideas of the indwelling spirit from
within according to the clarity and training of the mind. DEVOTION and
DISCRIMINATION, otherwise emotion and intellect, decide our attitude toward
these pictures, and their balanced action leads to a well rounded development.
When evolved to a certain point they inevitably bring about a process of
PURIFICATION. The man will realize that in order to attain the goal he must lay
aside whatever clogs the wheels of progress. A good mechanic aims to have the
best tools and keep them in perfect order, for he knows their value in producing
good work. Our bodies are tools of the Spirit, and in proportion as they are
clogged they hinder its manifestation. DISCRIMINATION teaches us what hinders,
and DEVOTION to the higher life helps to eliminate undesirable habits or traits
of character by superseding mere desire.

Flesh food, obtained at the cost of a fellow
creature's life and suffering, and imbued with its desires and passions, besides
being in a state of decay, is not a pure food, and no earnest aspirant to higher
powers would choose to feed his body upon such offal. He will study how to
satisfy the needs of his body with pure food. He realizes the importance of
keeping his brain clear that his waking consciousness may be thoroughly open to
spiritual influence, hence he will cease to use tobacco and alcohol which
stimulate the brain and then leave it deadened. Moderation is a misnomer in
regard to drink; all use of alcohol is excess and disastrous to the quest for
spiritual attainment.

Loss of temper is subversive of inner
growth; it is dissipation on a large scale of energy which may be profitably
used; it poisons the body, wrecks it, and enormously hinders attainment.

Likewise do thoughts of criticism hurt us,
and the aspirant will abstain from them as much as possible. Discrimination
teaches us IN AN IMPERSONAL WAY what is good and evil, but GIVES US NO FEELING
about it, and THAT IS THE IMPORTANT POINT. Examination of a fact, idea, or
object, and a decision respecting its worth is necessary and not to be shunned,
but harsh thoughts should be avoided for they form arrow-like thought forms, and
as they pass outward from us they pierce and obstruct the inflow of good
thoughts constantly radiated by the Elder Brothers and attracted by all good
men.

Two specific exercises are given the
aspirant on the path of preparation. Both lead to a development of spiritual
sight and insight. One leads the direct way and will appeal most to the
intellectual Occultist, but is of great value to thy Mystic, because it develops
the faculty he lacks most, namely, reason. The exercise is called CONCENTRATION,
which produces "thought power." The other brings a similar result in a
roundabout manner. It appeals most to the Mystic, but is of prime necessity to
the intellectual Occultist, because it supplies a FEELING FOR TRUTH, which is
BEYOND REASON. That exercise is RETROSPECTION, which develops "power of
devotion." Both are necessary to secure a thoroughly rounded development.

The philosophy of the attainment of
spiritual sight and insight is to compel the desire body to perform the same
work INSIDE the dense body WHILE WE ARE FULLY AWAKE, POSITIVE, and conscious as
it does OUTSIDE in sleep and in the post-mortem state.

There are certain currents in the desire
body of every one. They are strong, well defined, and form seven great vortices
in clairvoyants, but are weak, broken, and devoid of vortices in the ordinary
man who cannot "see." Development of those currents and vortices leads
to spiritual sight. In the daytime, when we are engrossed in material pursuits,
these currents are sluggish; but as soon as man draws out of the dense body
during sleep and commences the work of restoration as outlined in Lecture No. 4,
the currents revive, the vortices spin and glow, for the desire body is in its
native element, free from the clogging weight of the material body.

It depends upon the manner in which we have
used our dense bodies in the daytime as to how long the desire body requires to
perform the work of restoration of rhythm to the vital body and the dense body.
If we have used our bodies strenuously during the previous day, inharmonies
will, of course, be correspondingly prominent, and it will take the desire body
most of the night to restore harmony and rhythm. Thus the man will be tied to
his body day and night. But when he learns SKILL IN ACTION, controls his energy
in the daytime, and ceases to waste his strength on unnecessary words and
actions, when he commences to govern his temper and to stop inharmony due to
incorrect observation, the desire body will not be occupied during the entire
time of sleep in restoring the dense body. A part of the night may be used for
work outside. If the sense centers of the desire body are sufficiently evolved,
as they are with most of the intelligent class, the man may and does then slip
the cable and soar into the Desire World. He takes in the sights and scenes
there, though he does not usually remember them until he has effected a cleavage
between the higher and lower parts of the vital body, as previously explained.

Thus we see the great importance of correct
observation, of devotion to high ideals, of pure food, etc. All tend to
harmonize the inner and outer vibrations. In proportion to our attainment in
these directions, the time occupied in restoration is shortened and we are left
free to work in the Desire World.

THE EVENING EXERCISE

The evening exercise, RETROSPECTION, is of
greater efficiency than any other method in advancing the aspirant upon the path
of attainment. It has such a far-reaching effect that it enables one to learn
now, not only the lessons of this life, but lessons ordinarily reserved for
future lives.

After going to bed at night the body is
relaxed and the aspirant begins to review the scenes of the day IN REVERSE
ORDER, starting with the events of the evening, then the occurrences of the
afternoon, of the forenoon, and morning. He endeavors to PICTURE to himself each
scene as faithfully as possible, seeks to REPRODUCE BEFORE HIS MIND'S EYE all
that took place in each pictured scene, WITH THE OBJECT OF JUDGING HIS ACTIONS,
OF ASCERTAINING IF HIS WORDS CONVEYED THE MEANING HE INTENDED OR GAVE A FALSE
IMPRESSION, OR IF HE OVERSTATED OR UNDERSTATED IN RELATING EXPERIENCES TO
OTHERS. He reviews his moral attitude in relation to each scene. At meals, did
he eat to live, or did he live to eat, to please the palate? Let him judge
himself and blame where BLAME is due, PRAISE where merited.

Probationers sometimes find it difficult to
remain awake till the exercise has been performed. In such cases it is
permissible to sit up in bed till it is possible to follow the ordinary method.

The value of retrospection is enormous,
far-reaching beyond imagination. IN THE FIRST PLACE, we perform the work of
restoration of harmony CONSCIOUSLY and in a shorter time than the desire body
can do during sleep, leaving a larger portion of the night available for outside
work than otherwise possible. IN THE SECOND PLACE, one lives his Purgatory and
First Heaven EACH NIGHT, and builds into the spirit as RIGHT FEELING the essence
of the day's experience. Thus he escapes Purgatory and First heaven EACH NIGHT,
and builds into the spirit as RIGHT FEELING the essence of the day's experience.
Thus he escapes Purgatory after death and also saves time spent in the First
Heaven; and LAST, BUT NOT LEAST, having extracted, day by day, the essence of
experiences which make for soul growth, and having built them into the Spirit,
he is actually living in an attitude of mind, and developing along lines that
would ordinarily have been reserved for future lives. By the faithful
performance of this exercise we expunge day by day undesirable occurrences from
our subconscious memory so that OUR SINS ARE BLOTTED OUT, OUR AURAS COMMENCE TO
SHINE WITH SPIRITUAL GOLD EXTRACTED BY RETROSPECTION FROM THE EXPERIENCES OF
EACH DAY, AND THUS WE ATTRACT THE ATTENTION OF THE TEACHER.

The pure shall see God, said Christ, and the
Teacher will quickly open our eyes WHEN WE ARE FIT to enter into the "Hall
of Learning," the Desire World, where we obtain our first experiences of
conscious life without the dense body.

THE MORNING EXERCISE

CONCENTRATION, the second exercise, is
performed in the morning at the very earliest moment after the aspirant awakes.
He must not arise to open blinds or perform any other unnecessary act. If the
body is comfortable he should at once relax and commence to concentrate. This is
very important, as the Spirit has just returned from the Desire World at the
moment of waking, and at that time the conscious touch with that world is more
easily regained than at any other time of the day.

If the body is uncomfortable the aspirant
may rise to relieve it ere he concentrates, but much of the efficacy of the
concentration is lost by the delay.

We remember from Lecture No. 4, that during
sleep the currents of the desire body flow, and its vortices move and spin with
enormous rapidity. But as soon as it enters the dense body its currents and
vortices are almost stopped by the dense matter and the nerve currents of the
vital body which carry messages to and from the brain. It is the object of this
exercise to still the dense body to the same degree of inertia and insensibility
as in sleep, although the Spirit within is perfectly awake, alert, and
conscious. Thus we make a condition where the sense centers of the desire body
can begin to revolve while inside the dense body.

Concentration is a word that puzzles many
and carries meaning to but few, so we will endeavor to make its significance
clear. The dictionary gives several definitions, all applicable to our idea. One
is "to draw to a center," another from chemistry, "to reduce to
extreme purity and strength by removing valueless constituents." Applied to
our problem, one of the above definitions tells us that if we draw our thoughts
to a center, a point, we increase their strength on the principle that the power
of the sun's rays is increased when focused to a point by means of magnifying
glass. By eliminating from our mind for the time being all other subjects, our
whole thought power is available for use in attaining the object or solving the
problem on which we are concentrating; we may become so absorbed in our subject
that if a cannon were fired above our heads we would not hear it. People may
become so LOST in a book that they are oblivious to all else, and the aspirant
to spiritual sight must acquire the faculty of becoming equally absorbed in the
idea he is concentrating upon, so that he may shut out the world of sense from
his consciousness and give his whole attention to the spiritual world. When he
learns to do that, he will see the spiritual side of an object or idea
illuminated by spiritual light, and thus he will obtain a knowledge of the inner
nature of things undreamt of by a worldly man.

When he has reached that point of
abstraction the sense centers of the desire body commence to revolve slowly
within the dense body, and will thus make a place for themselves. This in time
will become more and more defined, and it will require less and less effort to
set them going.

The subject of concentration may be any high
and lofty ideal, but should preferably be of such a nature that it takes the
aspirant out of the ordinary things of sense, beyond time and space; and there
is no better formula than the first five verses of St. John's Gospel. Taking
them as subject, sentence by sentence, morning after morning, will in time give
the aspirant a wonderful insight into the beginning of our universe and the
method of creation--an insight far beyond any book learning.

After a time, when the aspirant has learned
to unwaveringly hold before him for about five minutes the idea upon which he is
concentrating, he may try to suddenly drop the idea and leave a blank. Think of
nothing else, simply wait to see if anything enters the vacuum. In time the
sights and scenes of the Desire World will fill the vacant space. After the
aspirant has become used to that, he may demand this, that, or the other thing
to come before him. It will come and then he may investigate it.

The main point, however, is that BY
FOLLOWING THE ABOVE INSTRUCTIONS THE ASPIRANT IS PURIFYING HIMSELF; HIS AURA
COMMENCES TO SHINE AND WILL WITHOUT FAIL DRAW THE ATTENTION OF A TEACHER who
will depute someone to give help when required for the next step in advancement.
Even if months or years should go by and bring no VISIBLE result, rest assured
that no effort has been in vain; the Great Teachers see and appreciate our
efforts. They are just as anxious to have our assistance as we are to work. They
may see reasons which make it inexpedient for us to take up work for humanity in
this life or at this time. Sometime the hindering conditions will pass, and we
shall be admitted to the light where we can see for ourselves.

An ancient legend says that digging for
treasure must be done in the stillness of night and in perfect silence; to speak
one word until the treasure is safely excavated will inevitably cause it to
disappear. That is a mystic parable which has reference to the search for
spiritual illumination. If we gossip or recount to others the experiences of our
concentration hour we lose them; they can not bear vocal transmission and will
fade into nothingness, until by meditation we have extracted from them a full
knowledge of the underlying cosmic laws. Then the experience itself will not be
recounted, for we shall see that it is but the husk which hid the kernel of
worth. The law is of universal value, as will be at once apparent, for it will
explain facts in life, teach us how to take advantage of certain conditions and
to avoid others. The law may be freely stated at the discoverer's discretion for
the benefit of humanity. The experience which revealed the law will then appear
in its true light, as of only passing interest and unworthy of further notice.
Therefore THE ASPIRANT SHOULD REGARD EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS DURING
CONCENTRATION AS SACRED AND SHOULD KEEP IT STRICTLY TO HIMSELF.

Finally, BEWARE OF REGARDING THE EXERCISES
AS A BURDENSOME TASK. ESTIMATE THEM AT THEIR TRUE WORTH; THEY ARE OUR HIGHEST
PRIVILEGES. Only when thus regarded can we do them justice and reap full benefit
from them.

In the Rosicrucian movement the Elder
Brothers distinguish between three classes:

First, STUDENTS, those who are merely
studying the Philosophy.

People of various denominations enter
educational institutions such as Harvard or Yale, and study mythology,
psychology, and comparative religion there without prejudice to their religious
affiliations. Students may enroll with us on the very same basis. Anyone is
eligible who is not a HYPNOTIST, OR PROFESSIONALLY ENGAGED AS A MEDIUM, PALMIST,
OR ASTROLOGER.

Second, PROBATIONERS, who are students but
who aspire to firsthand knowledge to fit themselves for service. To these, the
General Secretary will furnish a pledge wherein the aspirant promises HIMSELF
faithfully to perform the two exercises, to keep a daily record of his
performance, and send that record monthly to Headquarters. The term of probation
is at least five years, and has for its purpose to test the earnestness and
persistence of the aspirant, and TO GIVE HIM THE OPPORTUNITY TO PURIFY HIMSELF
BEFORE TAKING UP THE MORE DIRECT METHODS OF TRAINING INCIDENT TO DISCIPLESHIP.
The report is also designed to be a help to the aspirant in the performance of
the exercises. It is human nature to want to make as good a showing as possible,
and the aspirant will thus try to do better, knowing that his work is being
inspected.

When a person has been a student of the
Rosicrucian teachings for at least two years and has become so convinced of the
verity thereof that he is prepared to sever his connection with all other occult
or religious orders--THE CHRISTIAN CHURCHES AND FRATERNAL ORDERS EXCEPTED--he
may assume the Obligation which admits him to the degree of Probationer.

We do not mean to insinuate by the foregoing
that all other schools of occultism are of no account--far from it. Many roads
lead to Rome, but we shall attain with much less effort if we follow one of them
than if we zigzag from path to path. Our time and energy are limited in the
first place and are still further curtailed by family and social duties not to
be neglected for self-development. It is to husband the minimum of energy which
we may legitimately expend upon ourselves, and to avoid waste of the scanty
moments at our disposal, that resignation from all other orders is insisted upon
by the leaders.

The world is an aggregate of opportunities,
but to take advantage of any of them we must possess efficiency in a certain
line of endeavor. Development of our spiritual powers will enable us to help or
harm our weaker brothers. It is only justifiable when efficiency in SERVICE TO
HUMANITY IS THE OBJECT.

The Rosicrucian method of attainment differs
from other systems in one especial particular: It aims, even at the start, to
emancipate the pupil from dependence upon others, to make him SELF-RELIANT in
the very highest degree, so that he may be able to stand alone under all
circumstances and cope with all conditions. Only one who is thus strongly poised
can help the weak.

When a number of people meet in a class or
circle for self- development along NEGATIVE lines, results are usually achieved
in a short time on the principle that it is easier to drift with the tide than
to breast the current. The medium is not master of his actions, however, but a
slave of a spirit control. Hence such gatherings must be shunned by
Probationers.

Even classes which meet in positive attitude
of mind are not advised by the Elder Brothers, because the latent powers of all
members are massed and visions of the inner worlds obtained by anyone there are
partly due to the faculties of others. The heat of coal in the center of a fire
is enhanced by that of surrounding coals, and the clairvoyant produced in a
circle, be it ever so positive, is a hothouse plant, too dependent himself to be
entrusted with the care of others.

Therefore each Probationer in the
Rosicrucian school performs his exercises in the seclusion and privacy of his
room. Results may be obtained more slowly by this system, but when they appear,
they will be manifest as powers cultivated by himself, usable independently of
all others. Besides, the Rosicrucian methods build character at the same time
that they develop spiritual faculties, and thus safeguard the pupil against
yielding to temptation to prostitute divine powers for material gain.

The foregoing does not include giving up the
whole time of the candidate to spiritual endeavor. If no more time can be given,
five minutes in the morning and fifteen minutes at night will suffice. In fact,
to give up any time to development of spiritual faculties which should be used
in legitimate material endeavor would be decidedly wrong. We must do our full
duty in the material world before we may serve in the spiritual realms. Whoever
is faithless to his earthly duty cannot be expected to be faithful in spiritual
work.

When sixty CONSECUTIVE reports have been
sent in the candidate may apply for individual instruction, which will be given
if possible.

Third, DISCIPLES, who have completed the
term of probation and been accepted by the Elder Brothers, are given individual
instruction. Tuition is free.

During the past few years since we first
began to disseminate the Rosicrucian teachings, they have spread over the whole
civilized world. They are studied with avidity from the Cape of Good Hope to the
Arctic Circle and beyond; they have found response in the hearts of all classes
of people. They are known in the snow-clad huts of Alaska and in government
houses where a tropical wind unfurls the British Lion. In the capitals of
Turkish autocracy and American democracy alike, our adherents may be found, all
in lively correspondence and close touch with our movement and working for
promulgation of the deeper truths concerning Life and Being which are helping
them.